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Hurdle hints and answers for September 24
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintThis word means everything.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 24 Hurdle Word 1 answerWHOLE
Hurdle Word 2 hintA key skill for a thief.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 24 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerSNEAK
Hurdle Word 3 hintWhere babies come from according to children's stories.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 24 Hurdle Word 3 answerSTORK
Hurdle Word 4 hintA TV show starring Zachary Levi.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 24 Hurdle Word 4 answerCHUCK
Final Hurdle hintThese kinds of words are never spoken.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerTRUER
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 24
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, September 24, 2024:
AcrossWho says "Whoo!"The answer is Owl.
The answer is Whey.
The answer is Aside.
The answer is Yogis.
The answer is Hat.
The answer is Ohso
The answer is Weigh.
The answer is Lydia.
The answer is Est.
The answer is Way.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.
NYT Strands hints, answers for September 24
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 24 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Spacing outThese words are common in a star trek.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers are all related to Sci-Fi stories.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is ScienceFiction.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 24Robot
ScienceFiction
Alien
Martian
Mutant
Cyborg
Droid
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.
Every single 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 end credits Easter egg
A brand new season of Only Murders in the Building is here, and the prop team has once again delivered in a major way.
Just like in Season 3, the end credits of each Season 4 episode come with two visual call-backs to what we've just seen — little prop-sized details that may or may not be clues.
SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 review: Murder at the moviesWe've broken down each end credits Easter egg below (we'll keep updating this story as each new episode drops).
Episode 1, "Once Upon a Time in the West" Credit: HuluThe image on the left, a green box of premium quality "Olde Belgium" lager, is actually a throwback to the end of Season 3. This is the case of beer that Sazz (Jane Lynch) brings to Charles (Steve Martin), shortly before she's killed. "I got a cold case for ya," says Sazz, but Charles suggests fetching the 1966 Argentinian Malbec from his apartment instead. If only they'd stuck to lager.
The second image is a mockup poster of the apparently upcoming Only Murders in the Building movie adaptation, complete with the names of the core cast — Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis — and a line promising the film will be "only in theaters this Christmas".
Episode 2, "Gates of Heaven" Credit: HuluOn the left we have the small pig that Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) discover in the bathroom of the abandoned apartment opposite Charles' — in the West tower. This appears to have been the place where the killer sniped Sazz from, so we're guessing the pig will surely be significant down the line? We don't know who exactly it belongs to, but it makes a grunting bid for freedom at the end of the episode when it flees through the apartment's open door.
On the right are some playing cards, presumably representing the game of "Oh Hell" that Oliver and Mabel play with "the sauce family" who live opposite Charles. Could the game itself be some kind of clue? It could also represent the poker game Sazz set up for Charles on set of Brazzos back in the day, described in a moving moment in the episode as the time Sazz "found friends" for the lonely star of the show.
Episode 3, "Two for the Road" Credit: HuluOf course, the object on the left is a ham radio. These radios play a key roll in episode 3, with Mabel, Oliver, and Charles finally going some way to revealing their mystery right before the end credits. "Howard [Morris, Michael Cyril Creighton's character] was clocking the same song on the radio," says Oliver, after he and Mabel break into an impromptu rendition of the theme tune for 1986 sitcom Perfect Strangers. "Yes, a person came on the line and said, 'Meet me at 445.'"
The group quickly works out that this is a frequency, but when they tune into it they receive a cold warning. "You shouldn't be on this frequency," says the strange voice that responds. "The last person who came around asking these questions got killed."
The object on the right is less mysterious. It's a screenshot of a web search for "squatters rights NYC", with the following sentence highlighted: "a squatter can be considered a legal tenant in as little as 30 days." This is a callback to Mabel's plan to stay in the abandoned apartment in the West tower of The Arconia, now that she doesn't have her own place.
Episode 4, "The Stunt Man" Credit: HuluOn the left is a sign reading "Future Home of the Sazz Pataki Impact Academy". This is the sign that Charles, Oliver, and Mabel find on the lot that Sazz purchased in an attempt to fulfil her dream of opening up a trampoline park/stunt training centre for kids.
On the right is a painting of a person laid out on a pool table while others mill around — this is the painting that hangs up in the stunt bar, which Charles recreates when he stands in for Sazz' memorial service.
Episode 5, "Adaptation" Credit: HuluOn the left is a red carpet photo from the “Power Women Party: Most Power Women Under 100”, with studio head Bev Melon (Molly Shannon) in the middle and other women on either side. This is the photo Bev shows our main trio to back up her alibi for the night Sazz was killed. Sazz, it turns out, left a message on Bev’s phone just before she was murdered to say there’s “a big problem" with Bev's movie.
On the right is a news cutting with the headline "Burn Units Hottest New Star Sets Our Jonk on Fire" above a photo of Jack Jonk, the star Oliver fears his girlfriend Loretta (Meryl Streep) may be having an affair with.
Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is now streaming on Hulu, with a new episode every Tuesday.
Get an AI-powered app that helps with all your busywork for just £30
TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1minAI Pro for £29.97 (reg. £175.34) and automate your workflow with AI-powered tools.
Opens in a new window Credit: 1minai 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription £29.97 at the Mashable Shop£175.34 Save £145.37 Get Deal
Let’s be honest — nobody loves spending time on repetitive tasks. If you’re looking to reclaim your day and focus on what truly matters, 1minAI is here to help.
1minAI is an AI-powered tool that's like having a digital assistant on standby, ready to handle everything from content creation to image editing and PDF analysis. You can get 1minAI Pro for life with a one-time payment of £29.97 for a limited time.
1minAI taps into the power of advanced AI models like GPT-4 and Claude 3 to make your workflow more efficient. Whether you need to whip up a blog post, clean up an image, or dig into a document, 1minAI has you covered. And while AI is incredibly useful, it’s good to remember that a little human oversight goes a long way in fine-tuning the final result.
The Pro plan also comes with free monthly credits, giving you the freedom to tackle various projects without the stress of running out of resources. For instance, generating a 1,000-word blog post might use a portion of these credits, but with a lifetime subscription, you can plan and manage your tasks without worrying about recurring costs.
This one-time investment keeps your productivity high without tying you down to monthly payments. Don't miss this deal on a lifetime subscription to 1minAI Pro on sale for £29.97 for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Blocking users will soon be banned on X
X’s block feature as we know it is about to be no more, CEO Elon Musk stated Monday on the social media site.
Musk confirmed the change in a reply to Nima Owji, a web developer who first reported the news.
Tweet may have been deletedSince its inception, the block feature on Twitter, X’s former moniker, allowed users to prevent individuals from viewing or engaging with their public posts. With the change, blocked accounts will be able to view the blocker’s posts once again, but cannot engage with the content via likes, replies, reposts, or direct messages. Musk actually threatened last year to kill all features of the block, save for a blocked user being able to DM the blocker.
Even though Musk’s change isn’t as extreme as his previous announcement, Monday’s news is alarming to many who have faced harassment or stalking on X. Though the updated block feature prevents potential bad actors from causing trouble on X, anyone will soon be able to easily view information on the site and utilize it offline or via another site. Someone can now easily screen-capture a post on X from an account that previously blocked them, for instance, and repost it on Threads, Facebook, or Instagram; they can also screen cap that X post and post it on their own X account.
SEE ALSO: Donald Trump returns to X / Twitter with a flurry of posts — and an inconsistently labeled campaign adSome on X responded positively to the news, calling the current block function toothless. Owji, the web developer who reported the news, claimed anyone could circumvent the feature with alt accounts, while others pointed out that blocked users could view public posts in their browser’s incognito mode.
Whatever Musk’s motivation for the change — some posited it was Musk’s furtive method to amp up engagement and impressions for his ailing company, or tied to the upcoming presidential election, of which the CEO has a clear favorite — it may run into some roadblocks. The biggest hurdle for X is that Google and Apple require block features for social media apps available on their app stores — and there is already an effort afoot to push Google and Apple to block X downloads if blocking goes away.
'The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee' review: A movie giant narrates his bio-doc from beyond the grave
To resurrect a late actor — as recent franchise films have done using CGI — is akin to an act of puppetry, and The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee tackles this idea with mischievous literalism. It employs, as its central narrator, a delightfully designed marionette of the late English thespian, known for playing Count Dracula in the Hammer horror films, as well as fantasy icons like Count Dooku and Lord Saruman.
However, this self-reflexive touch is the documentary's only deft or thoughtful flourish. The end result is too rote and mechanical to truly inform audiences about its subject either intellectually or emotionally, despite featuring numerous friends, family, and colleagues who undoubtedly had access to Lee's wildly interesting life — the dimensions of which the film never fully explores.
What is The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee about?A man whose voice and posture exuded presence, Christopher Lee was a screen legend with an unconventional film career, and an even more unorthodox job before that: In the years following World War II, he was a Nazi hunter. However, The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is scarcely interested in exploring this side of the famous actor. In fact, it seldom sticks with any one topic or period of his life for long enough to create intrigue.
The film's opening images are its most pronounced. A visibly Lee-like silhouette sits in the darkness, as a nearby screen plays clips of various pals and confidants speaking on his behalf. It's a preview of what's to come: Lee looms large over the movie, but his story is told through other people's recollections. This shadowy figure is soon revealed to be a puppet on strings, voiced by fellow Star Wars alum Peter Serafinowicz (the voice of Darth Maul), who does an adequate impression.
Director Jon Spira has no qualms about revealing this ruse, and ensures that footage of Serafinowicz in a sound recording booth is prominently displayed. The film is not, after all, an attempted re-creation of Lee's thoughts, but a Brechtian dramatization of them, with no central source for his opinions despite his dialogue appearing in the first person.
One by one, Serafinowicz guides us through notable years of Lee's upbringing, his war service, and his early career leading up to his most famous roles, but little of this backdrop creates a wide enough portrait of who Lee really was. Much of this is owed to what the movie's interview subjects have to say — and notably, what they don't.
Surely there are more interesting stories about Christopher Lee?There are enough reasons to dislike director John Landis (three in particular), but his inflated presence in The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee feels especially odd. Lee and Landis were friends, having collaborated on The Stupids, but the filmmaker sheds little light on Lee's private life despite discussing him at length. In fact, the closest he comes to sharing a meaningful anecdote involves him recalling Lee's refusal to discuss World War II. Rather than probing further, the movie simply leaves it at that, even though Lee's part in the conflict is well-documented elsewhere. It’s hard not to wonder, from Landis’ musings, if the director knew him at all.
This lack of curiosity about its own subject plagues The Life and Deaths for much of its runtime, even though Lee’s niece and son-in-law feature among the interviewees. However, that’s likely only the movie's second-gravest sin. The larger issue is that the movie's imagined version of Lee is seldom as captivating as the real man, as evidenced by the eloquence and mysteriousness he often displayed in his own interviews, whether discussing the motivations of his characters, or the way his physicality was informed by the real violence he saw up-close in the 1940s.
Instead, the movie mostly features banal recollections of things Lee might've said on one occasion, without ever weaving them into a larger tapestry. Each tidbit is isolated, and relatively meaningless on its own, with little journalistic probing as to its underlying meaning or what it says about the man himself. It also never gets to the root of its own title, and only mentions in passing that Lee often played characters who died on screen, but it never attempts to investigate what this might mean for a performer who lived in such close proximity to death.
If nothing else, the movie's visual execution at least falls perfectly in line with this mechanical approach.
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is mechanically assembled.You could set your watch to the movie's use of any still photograph, on which it zooms in slowly for a few seconds apiece before cutting back to the most recent talking head. It's a repetitive form of editing that ensures a familiar rhythm, but one that offers no excitement or spark of imagination — let alone one that uses its images to punctuate what's being said. Instead, archival photographs are used to illustrate the words themselves, doubling down on how little the film actually has to say.
This is, of course, limited to the use of real pictures and footage. The movie also appears to make use — in limited but noticeable capacity — of A.I.-generated imagery to imbue some of these photos with movement. It also seems to use A.I. to create map inserts for transitional moments, when the topic being discussed is Lee's travel or relocation between countries (the places listed on these maps are total gibberish). For a film that seeks permission to bring a dead actor to life in humane ways, more akin to a biopic than ghoulish digital necromancy, it skirts the very same technological line in equally concerning ways.
However, even these generated elements don't add any spark or pizzazz to the proceedings. No matter its fleeting focus, the movie very quickly moves on from one topic to the next — in disconnected, rambling, "and then… and then… and then" fashion — as though it were simply running down a list of Lee's achievements from his Wikipedia page (which, incidentally, is far more informative).
Despite the numerous forms of stylization it attempts — on occasion, it portrays Lee's life through comic panels and eye-popping dioramas — The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee presents what ought to be a poetic life in the form of blank verse. It's a chore to watch, with little sense of insight about a man who lived a truly intriguing life.
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee was reviewed out of its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest.
Fill your skill gaps with Adobe’s generative AI tools
Going solo on a lot of things can be hugely rewarding, but sometimes, it can become a huge load to carry on your own.
Every content creator, solopreneur, side hustler, and freelance artist has hit roadblocks, maybe because of their skill level or perhaps a lack of time; it happens. When building a team isn’t possible, Adobe Firefly generative AI can help fill those gaps. Their services can help you speed through tasks and prioritize other things.
And since Adobe Firefly's features are integrated into the products you already know and likely use so often, you won’t have to waste time navigating new software. Here are some of the ways Adobe tools can help you power through projects.
Generate images using any kind of reference material Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Photoshop $22.99 at AdobeUse your own reference images or employ Text-to-Image to create from scratch Shop Now
Each step in the creative process can be enhanced with generative AI in Adobe Photoshop.
When you need to create something from scratch, ask Text-to-Image to design it using text prompts and creative controls. If you have an idea or style that’s too hard to explain with text, upload an image for the AI to use as reference material.
If you have a photo you love but want to swap the background, the latest Photoshop update allows you to generate a replacement background that matches the lighting, shadows, and perspective of the subject in the forefront.
Final tweaks can be made using Generative Fill with the new Enhance Detail, a feature that allows you to modify images using text prompts. You can then improve the sharpness of the AI-generated variations to ensure they’re clear and blend with the original picture.
Adobe Photoshop starts at $22.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.
Get pro-quality photos in a few clicks Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Lightroom $9.99 at AdobeTouch up your photos like a pro with Generative Remove and Lens Blur Shop Now
No matter what kind of camera you’re working with or how skilled of a photographer you are, Adobe Lightroom can help you easily achieve pro-quality photos super fast.
First up, Generative Remove. Say you have an otherwise perfect shot that’s ruined by one person in the group looking away or a photobombing animal. Generative Remove will wipe the unwanted part, and then replicate the background. It’s smart enough to do all this without smudges, distortions, or dark spots.
Another feature, Lens Blur, allows you to blur any part of a photo to create more professional-looking cityscapes, portraits, or street photography.
Adobe Lightroom starts at $9.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.
Create social and marketing content on the fly Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Express $22.99 at AdobeHarness the power of generative AI to create everything from flyers to TikTok videos Shop Now
When you need to move fast, the new Adobe Express app brings the best of these features together in an easy-to-use content creation tool.
It includes text-to-image and generative fill, video templates, stock music, image and design assets, and quick-action editing tools to help you create content easily on the go. Once you have created content, you can plan, preview, and publish it to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest without leaving the app.
If you do happen to have a team around you, features like brand kits, co-editing, and commenting will aid in faster, more seamless collaboration.
Adobe Express starts from $9.99 monthly, with a 30-day free trial.
An AI-driven personal assistant for the admin work Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Acrobat $19.99 at AdobeSpeed through your grunt work with Adobe's AI Assistant Shop Now
If the admin stuff gets you down, outsource it to AI Assistant for Acrobat — a clever new feature that helps you generate summaries or get answers from your documents in one click.
This can help you speed through long documents to find the most important insights, quickly identify key talking points for emails or marketing materials, and find themes and relationships across multiple documents or sources.
Once you’re in a groove with your new AI assistant, you’ll find so many new use cases, like summarizing meeting transcripts, generating podcast recaps, or uncovering action items.
Adobe Acrobat starts at $19.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.
Equip your solo operation with these transformative services and watch your projects hit new peaks. Or try Adobe's Creative Cloud, a complete toolkit for creativity, bundling Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Adobe Express, and Acrobat Pro.
Adobe Firefly generative AI tools riding shotgun can unlock limitless possibilities to boost productivity and creativity.
'Absolutely idiotic': An Excel spreadsheet was used for tragic OceanGate Titan submersible's navigation
Remember the Titan submersible?
Stockton Rush, founder and owner of the underwater tourism company OceanGate, took himself, a Titanic expert, and three tourists on a trip down to the infamous ship's remains on board the submersible in June 2023. However, the crew on the ground lost contact and the wreckage of the Titan submersible was later discovered. The sub had imploded and all five on board died.
New information about the tragedy is now being uncovered, thanks to an investigation by the U.S. government. Just last week, new footage was released showing the wreckage of the Titan submersible.
Now, according to former OceanGate contractor Antonella Wilby, we know more about how the now heavily scrutinized OceanGate ran its underwater tourism operation.
The Titan submersible depended on an Excel spreadsheetDuring a recent US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearing, Wilby revealed that OceanGate relied on an Excel spreadsheet to map the submersible’s navigation. Furthermore, the data was manually entered by hand into the Excel spreadsheet.
According to Wilby, the Titan’s ultra-short baseline positioning system pulled data on the submersible using sound pings. This included attributes such as the sub's velocity, depth, and positioning.
As The Verge points out, typically, this information would then be automatically collected and compiled into mapping software in order to keep tabs on the location of the submersible.
OceanGate, however, would write down the data in a notebook and then type it into an Excel spreadsheet.
Wilby called OceanGate's system "absolutely idiotic."
“There were delays because there was this manual process of first writing down the lat-long coordinates and then typing them in,” she explained in the hearing. “We tried to do that every five minutes, but it was a lot to do.”
The Coast Guard's investigation into the Titan submersible implosion continues this week.
30+ kitchen deals to shop ahead of October Prime Day: Ninja Foodi, nutribullet, and more
Amazon Prime Day is typically a great time to find kitchen gadgets on sale, from air fryers and fancy multicookers to coffee makers and blenders. And October Prime Day — aka Prime Big Deal Days — is no different. If it's a countertop appliance, there's a good chance it'll get a discount.
While the sale doesn't officially start until Oct. 8, we're already seeing some deals on brands like Ninja, nutribullet, Cuisinart, and Instant Pot. Most of these products aren't quite at Prime Day-level lows, but they're still solid discounts if you're looking to shop ASAP. Sometimes you just need a new air fryer or coffee maker and aren't willing to wait. We get it. Rest assured, you'll still get a decent deal if you shop early.
We'll be tracking the best kitchen deals throughout the Prime Big Deal Days 2024 event, so keep checking back if you don't see what you're looking for yet.
Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Air Fryer XL AF150 (5.5-quart) $109.99 at Amazon$159.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it
Whip up game day snacks this season in a flash and save some money with this deal on the Ninja XL air fryer. It can fit up to three pounds of fries or wings in its 5.5-quart basket, yet it won't take up a ton of countertop space at just 14 inches wide. Beyond crispy air-fried goodness, it can also roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate at the touch of a button. No need to wait for your oven to heat up. Ahead of October Prime Day, it's on sale for $109.99 at Amazon. That's not the cheapest it's ever been, but it'll still save you 31%.
More air fryer dealsChefman TurboFry Touch air fryer (4-quart) — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)
Chefman TurboFry Touch air fryer (8-quart) — $84.98 $119.99 (save $35.01)
Cosori Turboblaze air fryer (6 -quart) — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)
Chefman multifunctional digital air fryer (10-quart) — $89.98 $139.99 (save $50.01)
$199.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it
When it comes to pressure cookers, the Ninja Foodi Pro is one of the best (if not the best). The 11-in-1 multicooker is basically all of your kitchen appliances wrapped up into one magical device. It can pressure cook, steam, slow cook, air fry, sous vide, roast, sauté, broil, dehydrate, keep foods warm, and make yogurt. It's also dishwasher safe and large enough to fit a five-pound chicken or three pounds of fries. Regularly retailing for $200, you can score it on sale ahead of October's Prime Day for just $129.99. That's 35% in savings and the lowest price we've seen since Black Friday.
More multicooker dealsInstant Pot Superior cooker (7.5-quart) — $59 $79.99 (save $20.99)
Cuisinart 3-In-1 Cook Central multi-cooker — $154.08 $199.95 (save $45.87)
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid (6.5-quart) — $159.99 $229.99 (save $70)
$139.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it
Can't decide between a full-size blender and a personal one? The nutribullet Blender Combo offers the best of both worlds and it's on sale for under $100. It includes a 1200-watt motor base, a 64-ounce blender pitcher, a 32-ounce single-serve cup, and a 24-ounce single-serve cup with a handle for your at-home and on-the-go needs. Whether you want to whip up a protein shake, a creamy dipping sauce, a chunky salsa, or practically anything else, the three precision speeds, pulse function, and extract program offer all the controls you'll need. Slash nearly 30% off ahead of October Prime Day and get it for just four cents shy of its record-low price.
More blender dealsBlendJet portable blender — $29.99 $49.95 (save $19.96)
Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 blender — $54.99 $74.99 (save $20)
nutribullet Pro+ personal blender — $99.95 $129.99 (save $30.04)
Ninja BL660 Professional blender— $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)
nutribullet Blender Combo — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)
nutribullet Triple Prep system — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)
$649.99 Save $250.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal Why we like it
If the end of the summer of espresso has you feeling down, this deal on the Philips Barista Brew semi-automatic espresso machine might just be the pick-me-up you need. It's regularly a whopping $650, but with a pre-Prime Day discount and an on-page coupon, you'll pay just $399.99. That's about $6 shy of its all-time low price and about a 39% discount overall. This fancy espresso machine allows you to brew like a barista at home, thanks to quality tools like the 58-millimeter portafilter, single and dual-walled filter baskets, a stainless steel milk jug, and a powerful steam wand for frothing.
More coffee maker dealsKeurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
Ninja XL Coffee Maker Pro — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Cuisinart Grind and Brew single-serve coffee maker — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)
Keurig K-Elite single-serve coffee maker — $119 $189.99 (save $70.99)
Cuisinart Premium single-serve coffee maker — $119.95 $149.95 (save $30)
Breville Nespresso Vertuo POP+ coffee maker with milk frother — $134.96 $179.95 (save $44.99)
Cuisinart Coffee Center 2-in-1 coffee maker — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)
Philips 3200 Series automatic espresso machine — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)
$219.99 Save $44.00 Get Deal Why we like it
Just a dollar shy of its record-low price, the 5-quart stand mixer from Hamilton Beach Professional features a dozen different speeds, a tilt-head design, and versatile attachments including a flat beater, whisk, and spiral dough hook. It also includes a specialty attachment power hub, so you can add on other attachments (sold separately) for rolling pasta, grinding meat, slicing, and shredding. Regularly $219.99, you can save 20% and get it ahead of Prime Day for only $175.99.
More stand mixer dealsInstant Pot 6-speed stand mixer (6.3-quart) — $114.84 $149.99 (save $35.15)
Cuisinart Precision Master stand mixer (5.5-quart) — $192.01 $249.95 (save $57.94)
KitchenAid Classic Series tilt-head stand mixer (4.5-quart) — $269.99 $329.99 (save $60)
KitchenAid Artisan Series tilt head stand mixer (5-quart) — $379.99 $459.99 (save $80)
TikTok brings its paid subscriptions to more creators
TikTok is expanding its eligibility to creator subscriptions.
Previously known as LIVE Subscription, the monetization feature was only available for creators who stream on the platform. But starting today, Sept. 23, Subscription is available to any creator who is 18 years or older, has at least 10,000 followers, and has accumulated at least 100,000 video views in the past calendar year. LIVE creators previously eligible for the feature will still have access.
SEE ALSO: 'Beetlejuice lips' TikTok trend celebrates the natural creases of your lipsLIVE Subscription was first launched in 2022 and was directed at the streaming space, competing with YouTube and Twitch.
TikTok offers three tiers of Subscription. Similar to Patreon, Instagram Subscription, and YouTube membership, users pay a monthly fee to have access to exclusive content, channels, and identifying stickers. Creators can chat directly with subscribers on "Sub Space" and subscribers will have differentiating badges and stickers during LIVEs.
Subscription is rolling out to Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. TikTok plans to roll it out to more markets in the coming weeks.
Currently, LIVE Subscriptions start at $2.99 monthly, with some creators charging $5.99. When the feature first launched, TechCrunch reported that prices would be comparable to Twitch subscriptions, which cost $4.99.
Kids can't get enough of these hit toys
If you think it’s too early to start planning which toys you’re going to get your kiddos this holiday — it’s not. The longer you wait to make your list and start shopping, the greater the chance that the toys your kids want the most will be all snatched up.
This is where Walmart swoops in to save the holidays. Walmart has a rad lineup of exclusive toys and the brands that your kids will seriously flip out over — all in one place. You’ll find toys for kiddos of all ages from the likes of Bluey, Little Tikes, Barbie World, LEGO, Star Wars, and the list goes on. You’ll even find exclusive toys starting at just 10 bucks, so you can gift to the max without breaking the bank.
Check out this roundup of toys that are available only at Walmart and knock their little socks off this holiday. Walmart has loads more online, so get shopping.
Toys your tots will go gaga over Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Squishmallows Bluey HugMees $15.00 at WalmartShop Now
If your toddler is obsessed with Bluey — and whose toddler isn’t — this Squishmallows Bluey HugMees stuffed toy has its arms wide open and is always ready for a big hug. It feels as soft, plush, and cuddly as it looks, and it’s the perfect size for nap time. Add Bluey’s little sister, the Squishmallows Bingo HugMees, and make it a party snuggle.
Pre-schoolers will flip over these creative toys Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Fisher-Price Wooden Rainbow Stacking Shape Sorter $24.82 at WalmartShop Now
For a fresh take on an old-school favorite, the 25 wooden blocks included in the updated Fisher-Price Wooden Rainbow Stacking Shape Sorter all fit together in different ways, which can help sharpen your kiddo’s hand-eye coordination. The blocks are still as irresistibly bright and solid as you remember them — and they feel good in your little one’s paws. The wood is also from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, a nice perk.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Little Tikes Creative Chefs Nacho Kit $14.86 at WalmartShop Now
Every night is nacho night with this loaded Little Tikes Creative Chefs Nacho Kit. The visual recipe card is easy to follow and your kiddo physically makes the nachos, beans, cheese, avocado, sour cream, and tomato from colored, inedible sand that they put into the included molds and then cut up all pro-like with the play knife. It’s creative, it’s tactile, and it’s super fun for lil’ chefs.
Wow-factor toys for picky older kids Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Barbie World Game Room Set $24.97 at WalmartShop Now
Want to see your child do a Barbie celebration dance? This Barbie World Game Room Set comes with 19 supercool accessories and makes a standout addition to your kid’s Barbie Dream House. The set includes a TV, a pink bean-bag chair, popcorn, cute bevs, pets, and everything else Barbie and her pals could ever need to kick back on the DL. The foosball table even has three balls and working spinners — it’s almost enough to make a parental jealous.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Starship $70.00 at WalmartShop Now
If your Star Wars fan is also a LEGO fan, the Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Starship will rock their universe. Your kid will have a blast putting together the 64-piece kit and battling it out with the LEGO Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Saw Gerrera mini figures. They’ll also freak out over the starship’s foldout flight wings, retractable landing gear, and trigger-operated hatch that releases the Probe Droids.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart UNO Elite NFL Card Game $14.88 at WalmartShop Now
If you’re looking for budget-friendly stocking stuffers, the UNO Elite NFL Card Game will get your football fans all revved up. It’s basically played in the same way as the classic UNO card game that everyone loves, but what makes it Uno Elite is the addition of 60 action cards, all with full-color images of your kid’s favorite NFL players. Four of the action cards are even foil collectibles — don’t be surprised if the collectible cards disappear into your kid’s room for a huddle.
No matter how old your kiddos are or what kind of stuff they’re into, jumpstart your holiday shopping with Walmart’s impressive lineup of freak-out-worthy toys and get ahead of the pack. With the toys they want starting at just $10, you can score big gift wins, all in one place, and without dipping into their college fund.
'Gladiator II' drops another glorious trailer
iPhone 16 teardown reveals what Apple packed into the device
See ChatGPT run on a TI-84 graphing calculator
It's pretty remarkable what technically savvy people can accomplish. To wit: A modder posted a YouTube video showing how they got ChatGPT running on a TI-84 calculator.
Now, how in the world could someone access an AI chatbot on a relatively analog machine designed to do calculations? Well, with a lot of work.
The creator, ChromaLock, posted how they accomplished the feat in detail.
To be frank, a lot of what they did was beyond my comprehension and certainly beyond my abilities. They used the TI-84's link port — typically used to transfer educational programs between calculators — to get internet access and a direct line to ChatGPT. ChromaLock said the ChatGPT-enabled TI-84 would be the ultimate cheating machine, but it doesn't seem likely students everywhere will soon follow their lead.
The process was pretty complicated, involving a custom circuitboard, a microcontroller, and lots of expertise. It's cool when someone does something so complicated just because they can. Meanwhile, my calculator tricks remain limited to writing the word "hello" by typing the number 0.7734 and turning the screen upside down.
Get moving with the best Prime Day fitness tracker deals
If you're looking to bring home a new fitness tracker, Prime Day is a great time to shop. The retailer is putting up tons of deals on items across every department, fitness trackers included, with brands like Apple, Garmin and Samsung to name a few.
Now that the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to change, you might be more inclined to start that jogging program you were looking forward to. Or you might decide to get ahead of New Year's resolutions and start heading to the gym. Whatever you're planning, one of these fitness tracker deals can help you get going.
Scoop up the savings with these Prime Day fitness tracker deals and grab something for yourself or a friend or loved one before these deals float away. Below, find some of our favorite picks that you can shop right now.
Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Garmin Forerunner 265S $349.99 at Amazon$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it
The Garmin Forerunner 265S functions as both a fitness tracker and a smartwatch, but its primary use case is for helping you keep an eye on everything your body does. It tracks your sleep, workouts, training readiness, recovery score, HRV, heart rate, pulse oximetry, and much more, with a morning report delivered to you each day about how you slept and what your day should be looking like in terms of fitness strategies. It has crisp, bright AMOLED display and lasts up to 15 days on a charge, too. With its 30 activity profiles, smartwatch options that let you stay synced to your phone and modern design, this is a great fitness tracker that can help you keep track of your day as well as your exercise.
Best Android fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $199.99 at Amazon$299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an Android-centric smartwatch that boasts a variety of fitness tracker features. It doesn't look like your typical tracker, and more like a watch than you'd expect, giving it a low-profile feel. But it tracks heart rate, sleep, rhythm and a variety of other aspects of your fitness journey. Plus, it can sync with your other Android devices to keep everything in check. If you want a fitness tracker that looks like a timepiece instead of something that's obviously being used to keep an eye on your activity, this is the smartwatch/tracker combo you'll want.
Best Fitbit fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fitbit Sense $177.00 at Amazon$249.95 Save $72.95 Get Deal Why we like it
The Fitbit Sense is another fitness tracker and smartwatch hybrid that looks more like a timepiece on your wrist with a modern look, a comfortable strap, and a variety of tracking capabilities. It offers heart rate tracking, an ECG sensor, and an electrodermal sensor to track your skin temperature as well to help you keep an eye on your stress levels. It also offers haptic feedback across apps as well as a speaker that you can use alongside Google Assistant or Alexa for voice control.
More Prime Day fitness tracker dealsAmazfit Bip 5 — $74.98 $89.99 (save $15.01)
Amazfit GTS 4 (Renewed) — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)
Garmin Forerunner 55 — $188 $199.99 (save $11.99)
iPhone 16 Pro users are reporting unresponsive touchscreens
Some iPhone 16 Pro owners are reporting problems with the phone's touchscreen.
According to 9to5Mac, a number of people online have claimed that their new premium iPhone (whether it's the regular Pro or Pro Max) is not correctly registering every tap and swipe it should be registering. Obviously, this is problematic for a phone that almost entirely lacks real buttons. Having this problem would make it difficult to perform even basic tasks on an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max.
SEE ALSO: Don’t do this on iOS 18 — or you may lose your textsThe good news is that there seems to be a consensus on what's happening and how to fix it. The predominant theory right now is that the problem is software-based, specifically that the accidental touch algorithm in iPhones (which is meant to disable the screen from unintended taps and swipes) is too sensitive. With the very small bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, it might be a little too easy to accidentally have part of your hand on the screen without realizing it, which would disable taps and swipes on the rest of the screen.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: What are the differences?9to5Mac also pointed out that this doesn't happen when the phone is locked, and is much harder to replicate if the phone is in a case. In other words, this is almost certainly a software problem that is fixable on Apple's end, and even before that happens, you can avoid it by putting your iPhone 16 Pro in a case or being more careful about where you touch the screen.
Amazon deal of the day: The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 speaker just got its biggest discount to date
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is only two weeks away and the deals are slowly trickling in. We're keeping an eye out for all the best deals leading up to the shopping event — particularly on top brands we know and love. We've handpicked a few discounts we think are worth adding to your cart on Sept. 23, so you can kick off the savings a little bit early.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to check back throughout the week as we select new deals each day.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Boom 4 Bluetooth speaker $117.85 at Amazon$149.99 Save $32.14 Get Deal
Mashable's Alex Perry called the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 "a powerful music tube with a bevy of customization options, excellent sound, and an all-day battery." Now, released just a few months ago, the Boom 4 is improving on the already great speaker with enhanced deep bass radiators for bigger sound, a new software trick called megaphone, and the coveted USB-C port. It's regularly $149.99, but as of Sept. 23, it's down to just $117.85 at Amazon. That's 21% in savings and the first time it's hit this low of a price. There's just one catch: the record-low price only applies to the black colorway.
Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Starter Pack (Tile Mate + Tile Slim) $38.56 at Amazon$54.99 Save $16.43 Get Deal
Tile's starter pack is a solid introduction to Bluetooth tracking devices. It includes one Tile Mate (one of our top picks for a Bluetooth tracker) and one Tile Slim for just $38.56. That's 30% cheaper than buying each one separately. The Tile Mate attaches to your keys, luggage, and more without much bulk, while the Slim is the shape of a credit card, so it can slip inside your wallet or purse. The pair are designed to reliably help you keep track of your stuff through GPS. Plus, you can opt into a paid Tile Premium subscription and unlock extra features, like notifications when you leave stuff behind and item reimbursement.
Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips 4000 Series Smart Lock $117.20 at Amazon$169.99 Save $52.79 with on-page coupon Get Deal
The Philips 4000 Series Smart Lock is on sale for just $117.20 at Amazon and serves as a great way to dabble in the smart home world without breaking the bank. It's usually $169.99, so you'll save about 31%. Just remember to check the box for the on-page coupon. We haven't had a chance to test the Philips smart lock, but our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) have and found it to be a sleek and effective device, but a bit expensive. Like any good smart lock, it gives you multiple ways to lock and unlock your door, including a fingerprint scan, PIN codes, a mobile app, and traditional keys. You'll need to purchase the WiFi bridge separately for remote access and voice control. But luckily, with this discount, you'll keep an extra $52.79 in your pocket. That's more than enough to pay for the WiFi bridge.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Why is this Michigan school district suing social media companies?
Anyone who has attended a K-12 school or has a child, friend, or loved one who has attended one in the past decade knows one thing for sure — teachers and administrators are not fond of social media. One school is so critical of social media that it is suing the companies themselves.
The Lansing School District, which includes 25 schools in Michigan, filed a complaint against Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap, Inc. on Sept. 12 for not providing "adequate warnings" to children about how harmful social media can be, according to the Lansing State Journal. The school filed its complaint in the Northern District of California.
Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable. Ben Shuldiner, the superintendent of the Lansing School District, said in a statement emailed to Mashable that social media is an "incredible tool" that can "be used to learn and to teach." However, he argues, it can "also be used to harm, to threaten, and to intimidate."
"We, as a district, believe that social media companies must do more to protect and support our students when they use their product," the statement reads. "We believe that social media companies must do more to address threats and intimidation on their platforms. We believe that social media companies must do more to limit access to inappropriate material. To that end, the Lansing School District, along with hundreds of other districts across the country, is engaging in litigation. We look forward to the social media companies taking responsibility for their product and creating a safe environment for our children."
SEE ALSO: 'Profound risk of harm': Surgeon General issues warning about youth social media useWhile Lansing appears to be the only plaintiff in this case, it's not the only school district in the country suing social media companies. According to Education Week, Lansing is just one of 200 school districts that have sued social media companies for similar reasons. In March 2023, the San Mateo County School Board sued YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok, alleging that social media sites make kids depressed and anxious, leading students to act out, which drains school resources. Other districts have joined consolidated lawsuits against the platforms.
"Teachers and school administrators have been at the front lines of addressing this crisis and are overburdened by the negative effects on their students — from how it has affected mental health to behavior in the classroom," Lexi Hazam, an attorney with Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein and co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in a consolidated lawsuit, told Education Week. "Funds meant for educational purposes have been reallocated to address the misconduct of the corporations behind Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook. Social media companies should be held accountable and provide support to schools for the harms their products cause."
SEE ALSO: Instagram announces restrictive 'Teen Accounts' for users under 16There’s a long legal road ahead for Lansing, but it signals a continued fight for children and teens in the face of social media’s effect on their mental health.